Hey everyone,
From this point onward, there are only going to be a few things that I feel sure about; the Unspeakable helping Harry break the connection between him and Voldemort – aka take out the Horcrux – the school learning about Umbridge being gone, Lea arriving over the weekend, Harry getting used to being pregnant and growing closer with those that joined him to the Private Chambers – and Lucius helping Sirius and Amelia.
Wait, what,

Venquine1990


Chapter 06
Longbottom Resolve

27th of September 1995
Private Chambers, Hogwarts
Neville's POV

"I can tell you why." I state loudly, having no interest in giving this woman a chance to talk herself out of all of the mistakes I know she has been making over the last four years, especially now that she seems so against the one Lion who is going to need his Head of House the most out of everyone in the Den. And while I don't even like the idea of Harry returning to the Den, do I not care for this or for the way that McGonagall is glaring at me.
At one point it might have scared me, but everything that happened in the last four years, especially seeing Harry so horribly traumatized as he arrived back at the Quidditch Pitch at the end of last year, has hardened me and I have spent the better part of last summer practicing, training my body and mind and learning to overcome my greatest personal obstacles; my nerves and my clumsiness. And now that my closest friend needs me, I'm ready.

"McGonagall has been like this for years. Her problems with Harry go all the way back to First year. And don't bother, Professor, I've gotten over my forgetfulness and have a quote for evidence to prove I'm right." The woman is almost seething at me and sneers, almost on a level that would make Snape proud: "Well Mr. Longbottom, if you're so sure, why don't you make that quote?" And as I think: "Your funeral." Do I state:
"Four students out of bed after curfew. I've never seen anything like it." And I turn from her to Lupin and Black, who stare at me wide-eyed as I say: "Words spoken by Minerva McGonagall on the night of the 13th of April in 1992 to Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger – and Harry James Potter." And while McGonagall's eye twitches in annoyance that I actually remember this, do the two men start to glare at her in rage and anger as I ask:
"You want more? Because I have plenty, trust me.""Speak your mind, little Longbottom. It's obviously necessary. Especially considering Potter's current situation and the fact that McGonagall is supposed to be his Head of House." At this McGonagall wants to turn on the Unspeakable, but I just say: "Another fact is that McGonagall only visits the Quidditch team – when Harry is late for practice. And I overheard her one time.
She was encouraging the others to train Potter harder. And considering the fact that she never did with Harry around proves just what she means with that." To which Alicia says: "Which caused for Oliver to tell Harry to catch the Snitch or die trying during the first match of his Second year, when he had that crazy Bludger against him.""Oh, and I guess that's my fault too, isn't it?" McGonagall snaps, but I just raise my eyebrow at her.

"Act your age, will you?" The Unspeakable asks and she goes on: "That's the kind of excuse a teen uses when he's in an argument with a rival from another House or a younger or older brother. Not a Head of House who is responsible for the health and well-being of his or her students." McGonagall glares at the woman, but I just go on and ask: "Headmaster, do you recall the one meal this week where Gryffindor didn't lose any points?"
The man nods, while Black, Mrs. Weasley and Lupin share looks of confusion and the man says: "Yes, and now that I think about it, Minerva whispers something under her breath every time. Well, every time bar last Monday for breakfast. Minerva, what were you taking those points for?""For me not sitting close enough to Harry.""You don't know that."
McGonagall snaps, but I roll my eyes and Ron says: "Wait a second – no, he's right. Neville was sitting in front of Hermione, opposite of Harry on his right, for breakfast on Monday, but he sat with Dean and Seamus all the other meals. And because Harry and Seamus are in argument over You – over Voldemort, Neville sits almost half a table away. And Gryffindor lost five points every time. And the same thing has been happening since Thursday."

I notice Harry looking between McGonagall and me and nod at the boy as I say: "You got that right, Harry. Her keeping me behind every Transfigurations is just another nail on the coffin. It has nothing to do with my spellcasting, my results in class or even my homework. She keeps me behind – to motivate me into being better friends with you.""I am trying to give Mr. Potter another support source. You should –."
The woman tries to snarl at me, but I take on a high-pitched tone in an effort to mimic her tone as I quote: "You and Harry could be close friends, Mr. Longbottom. It will do much good for your future, especially the years after your graduation. If you get close now, you might be Harry's best man at his wedding or at least stand with him. You might be invited to the birth of his child, if he has one after graduating. The four of you might make a major difference in the coming war. You four could become more legendary than even the Marauders."
And while everyone is now gaping and staring at the woman in shock and disbelief, does she cross her arms and angrily state: "I don't see the problem here." To which I roll my eyes and the Unspeakable snorts as she says: "Really, because then you're blind. Even I can see what's wrong here and this is my first time in the castle since my own graduation, bar my visits to my sister, of course. The whole thing is obvious; you're trying to recreate the past.
You don't care for the young Potter here. To you, he might as well be Kissed by a Dementor. You're trying, in all ways bar Necromancy or dark Reincarnation Rituals, to make Harry Potter be his father. You want him to give up the child, because James Potter didn't get his firstborn until after graduation. And you're trying to turn Longbottom here into Peter Pettigrew, hoping he will betray Potter and that Potter will die for his child, ending the war.
You're willing to let this stupid war, which hasn't even started yet and won't need to either, run for another six years, regardless of the victims it might make, just because that's how it happened when your life had some happiness in it. And you can try to deny this all you want, the evidence speaks for itself. Though I do wonder one thing; why? Why would you want this?" And everyone looks at the woman who angrily screams:

"TO PREVENT THAT DEATH, NOT CAUSE IT!" This just doesn't make any sense to me and Lupin asks: "But why would you want that?" And the woman groans: "Because my Mind-Healer recommended it. He said it will help me get closure with what happened all those years ago. If I can save Harry Potter, I might be able to have closure with the fact that I couldn't save his father, that I couldn't be there for his parents."
Yet to this Harry asks: "And for that I have to be 21 and with child? Why? Why didn't you try this in my First after you realized that I had gone down to the Third Floor Corridor and that someone was trying to steal it? Why didn't you try that when the Chamber of Secrets was open? Why was keeping the school year going more important to you? Why didn't you do that in my Third? Why did it have to be Lupin who taught me the Patronus?
No offense." The boy quickly tells the man, who shakes his head, proving he isn't offended. "Why would I need to be 21 for that? Why not the actual age where someone like me would need someone like you? Why do I need to lose my childhood, my innocence, before you're willing to protect me?" And he sounds genuinely hurt and confused by this point, looking at McGonagall like a cub that has lost sight of its mother.

"I think another question that needs to be asked is; who the heck is even your Mind-Healer? I mean no offence to you, Minerva, but what kind of nut recommends something that counter-productive, that long-term and stupid?" The Unspeakable asks and the Lioness answers: "His name is Lionel Shells." To which I groan as I remember tales my grandmother used to tell me about how she tried to help my parents heal from their fate.
"Professor, for the love of Merlin. You're getting scammed. Shells is a charlatan, he tried to heal my parents through some crazy long-term healing plan that covered nothing but calming draughts and other basic potions of the same nature. And the potions he tried to brew himself all ended up either exploding or malfunctioning. He almost even poisoned my mum with one of his brews. Gran gave him hell for this and then fired him. She told me."
The woman looks at me horrified, while some of those around me look curious, obviously wondering what is wrong with my parents. Only Harry doesn't seem to share in this and I wonder when he found out what happened to them. But the fact that he is the only one and that the same doesn't count for Ron and Hermione proves that Harry kept this a secret. This makes me smile and then Mrs. Weasley asks: "Minerva, is he charging you?"
The woman shakes her head and the Unspeakable says: "That proves he's a charlatan. It's against the law for Mind-Healers not to charge their patients. Even if they don't charge money, they still need to charge something, like a debt, a repaid service or even, in the case of store owners, the promise of discount on their next purchase. It's a way for Aurors to separate the legitimate Mind-Healers from the charlatans and make it easier to arrest the latter."

At this the woman sighs and mutters: "I – I need time to think." And we all nod at her, me really hoping that she will, afterwards, come to apologize to Harry for her horrible words if not everything else she has been causing. Yet I also notice that Harry is actually watching her closely as she leaves through the hallway, down through the portrait hole on the other side. We both watch it close behind her and then Harry seems to take action.
He gets out of his seat and asks: "Ron, would you walk with me, please?" And while confused does the redhead follow his best friend as Harry heads for the other side of the room, where a single bookcase is set against the wall. Harry turns from it to Ron and says: "Get the most advanced book you can find – and then throw it at me. Trust me, Hermione." He ends, raising a hand at his other best friend, who does look ready to yell at him over this.
Instantly I know something is up and I gently grab Hermione's arm and whisper: "He knows you. You know he would never ask Ron this in your presence if he doesn't have a good reason. Just wait." The girl grimaces, but nods, looking curious and concerned. We both watch and Ron grabs a huge, heavy looking tome of which the cover proves that this one has been opened dozens if not hundreds of times. The boy grunts and then throws the book, which obviously takes effort.

And instantly I know something is really wrong as Harry, who I know has great reflexes, agility and an incredible eye, actually raises his arms way too high in his effort to catch the book that is so heavy it doesn't even reach halfway between the two of them before falling down. Harry sighs and asks: "I was way off, wasn't I?" We all nod and Harry says: "That doesn't surprise me. But here's the real problem; I didn't even see the book, not even when Ron grabbed it."
"You can't see it?" The twins ask and Harry shakes his head and says: "I can't. I haven't been able to see other things like it either for almost two years now. I can hardly ever see other tomes and books of a similar nature, can't see any of the other Seventh years or students studying for their Masteries. I – I couldn't even see any of you guys when you were studying for your OWLs." And as he says this, do certain things suddenly click.
"All those times that you go to sit somewhere in the Library where the older students are; you go sit there because you genuinely think the table's free, don't you? And those few random times when you take a turn and run into some of the older Ravenclaws? You don't see them either, do you? Or when you walk on the side of the Gryffindor Table that is next to the Ravenclaw table. You don't see any of them either, do you?"
Harry shakes his head at all this and says: "And I don't get why either? I mean, if I'm cursed then surely Madam Pomfrey must have spotted the spell long before now. I know it was put on me after I left that one Transfigurations class at the start of the semester after Christmas in Third as that was the first time I ran into someone from Seventh Year, but I just don't get why the spell is still active. I've been to the Hospital wing several times since."

This really confuses all of us, but then Black walks over to the two and says: "Poppy won't be able to remove the spell – if she doesn't first locate it. And she won't diagnose it – if it's not actually on your person. Tell me, Harry. You are usually out cold when you come to the Hospital Wing, right? So what is the one thing you won't need when that happens?" And instantly it makes sense for all of us and the Chasers chorus: "His glasses!" And Black nods.
Harry blinks in shock, but then takes off his glasses and squints down. And the way his eyes, even when obviously unfocused, widen prove that he is finally able to see the huge tome that is still on the floor. He hands his glasses to Sirius, who taps them with his wand, undoing the spell, while Harry himself reaches out and picks up the book, actually smiling to prove that he is happy to finally be able to see it before he puts it back.
Black gives him back his glasses and Harry puts them on before turning to the bookcase. His eyes widen again and he mutters: "Wow, that case is a lot fuller than it was earlier.""Really?" Hermione asks and Harry nods as he motions for one of the shelves and says: "This whole shelf? Completely empty before the spell was removed. And there were only three books here, five here and only half as much on all of the other shelves."
He sighs and shakes his head as he motions for the bottom shelf and says: "Only this shelf is still as full to me as before the spell was removed. And surprise, surprise. Look at what subject these books are on." But even though the bookcase is on the other side of the room, does Lupin mutter: "Let me guess, Transfigurations? James' best subject?" And Ron, Black and Harry nod, making me roll my eyes and look away.

"That is an extreme case of negligence when it comes to Mr. Potter's education, if not outright abuse of it and McGonagall's rights as Head of House and teacher. And I doubt this was something else recommended by that charlatan of hers." The Unspeakable mutters to herself and I decide to change the subject. I turn to Lupin and ask: "So, Pettigrew is the one to have betrayed the Potters? I guess he's also the one to have killed those Muggles, huh?"
The man nods and says: "Yes. He's also the one who killed Cedric and helped Voldemort return." This astounds me and I ask: "Wait, what? Why doesn't my gran know about this? She's been waiting for something irrevocable to use to get Black a trial for more than a year. She wanted to use Third Year, but his attack on the Fat Lady made her hesitate. Has this been officially determined in anyway? Has anyone checked Cedric for a Magical Signature?"
But to this, while Hermione, Ron and Harry gape at the fact that my gran wants to give Sirius a trial, does Dumbledore sigh and say: "I'm afraid that Amos was blackmailed by Dolores not to have the Magical Signature checked, to just leave the cause of death as it was and to have the burial as soon as possible. And I doubt Amos would be willing to dig up his own son to get that checked now." But to this I shake my head and say:

"Not if it can help the Alliance, if it can help someone get the justice he deserves, the freedom he deserves. Besides, I know that both Mr. Diggory and my Gran hate the injustice dealt to Black all those years ago. They would love a chance to set it right, especially if it helps honor Cedric's death as well.""But it's been too long." Mrs. Weasley tries, but I shake my head and say: "We can call it their Period of Grief. Every Ancient House deserves one."
"But what about Dolores? I know Amos and I know he's not one to give into blackmail just like that. I may not know what Dolores has against him, but I know it's bad." But while I want to tell him that I feel sure that Gran will protect Mr. Diggory if necessary, does Madam Pomfrey smirk and say: "Dolores won't be a problem, Albus. Not anymore. She was arrested just minutes after you left my wing, charged with trying to cast an Unforgivable.
Fudge even saw her do it and was the one to cast the stunner that took her out." This astounds us all and Hermione says: "She's right. We saw it happen. Harry even tried to disarm her and then forced her on the defensive before the Minister stunned her." And Ron nods, though I also notice that there is a hint of rage burning in his eyes.

"And besides, if Augusta wants to convince the Wizengamot to give me a trial, we have some ammo that might help. We wanted to use Kingsley to present it, but he got blocked. His rank as Auror wasn't high enough that he could get authorization for what we needed, not without causing the wrong people to ask the wrong kind of questions. Oh and Neville, it's Sirius for Harry and his friends." Sirius tells me, making me smile and nod at him.
"Sirius, wait, what do you have?" Mrs. Weasley asks and the man answers: "It's actually something that some might not agree with, but – it's the reason Crouch sent me to Azkaban without a trial all those years ago. He confessed it to me, to my face, a week after he imprisoned me. And it might give Augusta a chance to make a deal with Lucius. Yes, the Malfoys also got victimized over this. Crouch played them and me in the same move."
"How is that even possible? The Malfoys are Death Eaters." Ron snarls and Sirius answers: "And Narcissa is also a Black. And Crouch actually had evidence that proved that Lucius was lying about his Imperius excuse. He just made a deal with the blonde. Draco would be next in line for Lord Black and in return Crouch would get access to the Black Vaults. Yes, Crouch got illegal access to Vaults that he had only very indirect rights to and no one stopped him."
This astounds and horrifies me and then Sirius leans back against the wall next to the bookcase and says: "Now of course, if it gets me my freedom back, I'm willing to do the same. Promise Lucius that Draco will remain in line, even if he goes from first to third, behind Harry and his upcoming child, and grant him 50% access to the Black vaults, if in return he helps Augusta and Amelia get my freedom back. As long as he doesn't use the money against Harry, of course. If he wants to use it to further spoil little daddy's boy, Draco, that's fine with me."

The man is waving his hand carelessly at the end and then suddenly Angelina looks down her robe. She pulls out a small make-up mirror of her own and opens the lid as she asks: "Mum, is Andrew there with you?" And an older female voice answers: "He is, dear. And he has good news. He got transferred from Magical Transportation to the DMLE after hearing what Umbridge and Fudge wanted them to do. He's working for Amelia and Rufus now."
Instantly everyone shares shocked and gleeful looks with each other and Lupin asks: "Does he have access to the records? To Sirius Black's criminal record?" And while I'm sure he's using his friend's full name to keep up the act, does another voice, this one male and sounding a few years older than us, say: "Sure. I got access to those a few weeks ago. My reputation at Transportation preceded me and Madam Bones gave me personal access. But who's asking?"
To this Angelina carefully makes sure that her body hides Sirius' before she turns the mirror to our old teacher. And while I suddenly wonder if the man might be coerced into retaking the position, does he say: "There is something in that file that James Potter hid in there a few days before he went down under, something that people like Augusta Longbottom will be very happy to have. I found out about it after I resigned from teaching."
This really intrigues me and then another voice, one that is quite familiar to me as the woman in question often visited the Manor to meet with Gran, speaks and Madam Bones asks: "What exactly will we find there, Remus? Something, I assume, that will finally help us get Sirius Black the trial he was denied all those years ago?" And Lupin astounds us all as he smiles and says: "Most definitely. It's James' Final Will. He hid it in Sirius' file, behind his date of birth."


James Potter did WHAT?
Wow, now that's a twist that came literally out of nowhere. No, I mean it, when thinking up this story, this sudden twist came out of nowhere and actually astounded me for a few minutes before I went on thinking up the rest of the story. Also, this is just one of many versions I have been wanting to write, but I definitely like this version the best. Also there are only small differences between this and the other versions.
In one Molly goes the Minerva route and even goes a little further in her need to convince Harry to give up the child for adoption and ignoring his rights, leading to Harry locking himself in his room to avoid upsetting the other Weasleys with another row. Another had the whole Hand Oath thing happen with only Dumbledore, Harry and the two Pomfreys present and took place in Pomfrey's office instead of Harry's rooms.
The final one was with a scene where Dumbledore spotted McGonagall waiting in front of the other portrait and took her to the Gryffindor Common room where he would hear some of the students' opinion on Harry. I just didn't do that, because of Sirius in chapter 02. Also about Sirius and Albus, here's the explanation. Albus discovered that Sirius was no longer Regent, went to Poppy and then went from her to Harry.
And Sirius went along with him, because he wanted to prove that him no longer being Regent of House Potter meant nothing in regards to his role as Godfather. And he took the risk of going along with Albus to visit Poppy, because he trusts her as Regent and felt sure she would be private. And she was as Amelia decided to question Percy in her own office, which happened before Andrew called his sister, Angelina.
Explanation done,

Venquine1990
PS. Yes, the timeline might get that complicated more later on.